Aaron Gunn

Gunn grew up in Greater Victoria,{{Cite web |date=2021-10-22 |title=Aaron Gunn tossed from B.C. Liberal leadership race over 'diversity concerns' |url=https://www.timescolonist.com/bc-news/aaron-gunn-tossed-from-bc-liberal-leadership-race-over-diversity-concerns-4692945 |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=Times Colonist |language=en}} and became interested in filmmaking as a teenager.{{Cite web |last=Yanor |first=Fran |date=2025-03-14 |title=Aaron Gunn doesn't need your approval, he knows who he is |url=https://northernbeat.ca/profile/aaron-gunn-doesnt-need-your-approval-he-knows-who-he-is/ |access-date=2025-05-02 |website=Northern Beat |language=en-US}} He earned a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Victoria,{{Cite web |date=2025-05-01 |title=North Island MP-elect says voters worried about jobs, crime, drug crisis |url=https://www.timescolonist.com/2025-canada-votes/north-island-mp-elect-says-voters-worried-about-jobs-crime-drug-crisis-10596516 |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=Times Colonist |language=en}} and served in the 5th (British Columbia) Field Artillery Regiment of the Canadian Army Reserve.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-06 |title=Conservative party chooses North Island-Powell River candidate |url=https://www.prpeak.com/local-news/conservative-party-chooses-north-island-powell-river-candidate-7930066 |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=The Peak |language=en}}

After university, Gunn worked for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, where he developed a style of commentary filmmaking. He then worked for conservative organization Canada Proud, producing about 200 two-minute videos on political topics.

Gunn runs a YouTube channel where he produces political commentary, often focusing on issues related to Canadian governance, taxation, and regional concerns.{{Cite web |title=Aaron Gunn |url=https://www.youtube.com/@AaronGunnBC/videos |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=YouTube |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Charach |first=Kevin |date=2022-11-05 |title=Polarizing 'Vancouver Is Dying' documentary amasses 2 million views |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article/polarizing-vancouver-is-dying-documentary-amasses-2-million-views/ |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=CTVNews |language=en}} His channel gained attention for the documentary "Vancouver is Dying", which addressed crime, homelessness and the opioid epidemic in Vancouver.{{Cite web |last=Charach |first=Kevin |date=2022-11-05 |title=Polarizing 'Vancouver Is Dying' documentary amasses 2 million views |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article/polarizing-vancouver-is-dying-documentary-amasses-2-million-views/ |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=CTVNews |language=en}} The film has received over 4.5 million views,{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT8OU8Yhs_s |title=Vancouver is Dying {{!}} Full Movie |date=2022-10-05 |last=Aaron Gunn |access-date=2025-05-04 |via=YouTube}} and was criticized for misrepresenting addiction policy and contributing to the stigmatization of marginalized populations. Gunn's channel has grown significantly, with over 11 million views and 97.8 thousand subscribers as of 2025.

In October 2021, Gunn announced he was seeking the leadership of the BC Liberal Party (now BC United). However, he was disqualified from the 2022 British Columbia Liberal Party leadership election after the party stated that his views conflicted with its commitments to diversity and reconciliation.{{Cite news |last=Coyne |first=Todd |date=April 29, 2025 |title=Controversial candidate Aaron Gunn wins seat for Conservatives in B.C. |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article/controversial-candidate-aaron-gunn-wins-seat-for-conservatives-in-bc/ |access-date=April 29, 2025 |website=CTV News}}

Following his disqualification, Gunn founded Common Sense BC, an advocacy group to explore the viability of a right-wing alternative to the BC Liberals.{{cite news |last=Russ |first=Geoff |date=May 27, 2022 |title=Young Tories take aim at BC Liberals |url=https://northernbeat.ca/opinion/young-tories-take-aim-at-bc-liberals/ |access-date=May 4, 2025 |work=Northern Beat}} Common Sense endorsed a slate of candidates who stood for election to the BC Conservative Party board at the May 2022 annual general meeting. The endorsed candidates, including conservative strategist Angelo Isidorou, were elected, marking a significant shift in the party's leadership.{{Cite web |title=Who Is Running the BC Conservatives? |url=https://thetyee.ca/News/2024/10/17/Who-Is-Running-BC-Conservatives/ |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=The Tyee}} In August 2022, the party revealed a new logo, website, and platform. Isidorou went on to serve as Executive Director and Provincial Campaign Manager in the 2024 BC general election.{{cite news |last=St. Denis |first=Jen |title=From MAGA Kid to Canadian Right-Wing Power Player |url=https://thetyee.ca/News/2024/12/18/From-MAGA-Kid-Canadian-Right-Wing-Power-Player/ |work=The Tyee |date=December 18, 2024 |access-date=May 4, 2025}}

Gunn received the Conservative Party nomination in December 2023 for the riding of North Island—Powell River.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-06 |title=Conservative party chooses North Island-Powell River candidate |url=https://www.prpeak.com/local-news/conservative-party-chooses-north-island-powell-river-candidate-7930066 |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=The Peak |language=en}} His candidacy came under scrutiny during the 2025 federal election for his previous social media posts about Canada's residential school system, including controversial remarks where he claimed Indigenous groups in Ontario had “asked for” residential schools and that the word "genocide" did not reflect the reality of the residential school system.{{Cite web |last=McKay |first=Jackie |date=2024-04-03 |title=First Nations leaders in B.C. call for Conservatives to drop candidate Aaron Gunn |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/aaron-gunn-first-nations-social-posts-1.7500555 |access-date=2025-04-30}} In 2020, Gunn tweeted: “There was no genocide. Stop lying to people and read a book”.{{Cite news |last=Coyne |first=Todd |date=29 April 2025 |title=Controversial candidate Aaron Gunn wins seat for Conservatives in B.C. |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article/controversial-candidate-aaron-gunn-wins-seat-for-conservatives-in-bc/ |access-date=7 May 2025 |work=CTV News}} He continued to make statements of this nature in 2021 when he described residential schools as “much-maligned”.{{Cite news |date=April 5, 2025 |title=Poilievre stands by B.C. candidate called out for residential schools remarks |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article/poilievre-stands-by-bc-candidate-called-out-for-residential-schools-remarks/ |access-date=7 May 2025 |work=CTV News}} These comments were condemned by the British Columbia's First Nations Leadership Council and the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs, and protests were held at Gunn's campaign office was by Indigenous groups.{{Cite web |last=Stoltz |first=Dean |date=2025-04-13 |title=Aaron Gunn, focus of two opposing rallies Saturday |url=https://cheknews.ca/aaron-gunn-focus-of-two-opposing-rallies-saturday-1249176/ |access-date=2025-05-02 |website=CHEK |language=en-CA}} An online petition calling for his removal as a candidate because of those comments received over 15,000 signatures.{{Cite web |last=Jure |first=Brendan |date=2025-04-09 |title=Petition for Aaron Gunn's removal has reached over 15,000 signatures |url=https://www.comoxvalleyrecord.com/local-news/petition-for-aaron-gunns-removal-has-reached-nearly-9000-signatures-7934791 |access-date=2025-05-02 |website=Comox Valley Record |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Remove Aaron Gunn for his residential school denialism |url=https://you.leadnow.ca/petitions/pierre-poilievre-remove-aaron-gunn-as-the-candidate-for-north-island-powell-river?utm_source=comox%20valley%20record&utm_campaign=comox%20valley%20record:%20outbound&utm_medium=referral |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=Leadnow.ca |language=en}}

Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre stood by Gunn, despite calls to have him removed.{{Cite web |last=Owen |first=Brenna |date=2025-04-30 |title=Poilievre stands by B.C. candidate called out for residential school posts |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/pierre-poilievre-aaron-gunn-1.7503105 |access-date=2025-04-05}} Poilievre called the claims that Gunn had denied the impact of residential schools "false" and "misinformation". Gunn did not speak for himself on the issue, but Poilievre asserted that "[Gunn] has said that he wants to continue to condemn the residential schools and build stronger partnerships with First Nations people to unlock our resources so that we can produce incredible paycheques and opportunities for First Nations communities".

Gunn has publicly opposed the B.C. Northern Shelf Marine Protected Area (MPA) Network (better known as the Great Bear Sea MPA Network). The conservation project has involved nearly 20 years of negotiations with over a dozen coastal First Nations, the province of British Columbia, and the federal government.{{Cite news |last=Baker |first=Rochelle |date=26 March 2025 |title=North Island-Powell River conservative candidate targets Great Bear Sea marine protection plan |url=https://www.nanaimobulletin.com/news/north-island-powell-river-conservative-candidate-targets-great-bear-sea-marine-protection-plan-7906121 |access-date=7 May 2025 |work=Nanaimo News Bulletin}} The scope of the MPA was decided through consultation with 17 First Nation leaders who have been involved in identifying the key conservation areas in their territories, as well as biologists, provincial marine planners and Fisheries and Oceans Canada staff. Gunn produced a [https://www.youtube.com/shorts/oZrJQAtpt9c video] titled “No Fishing Allowed: Trudeau’s plan to decimate an entire industry”, arguing the MPA is without scientific merit and politically motivated move by former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to end commercial and recreational fishing. Gunn asserts the MPA is solely the “agenda of radical environmentalists”.

Gunn was elected in the 2025 federal election, receiving 38.8% of the vote, flipping the seat from the New Democratic Party (NDP).{{Cite web |date=2025-04-29 |title=Election 2025: North Island-Powell River riding results |url=https://www.campbellrivermirror.com/news/election-2025-north-island-powell-river-riding-results-7972733 |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=Campbell River Mirror |language=en}} The election largely centred Gunn, as both the NDP and Liberal Party candidates defined their candidacies in opposition to his.{{Cite web |date=2025-04-29 |title=Conservative Aaron Gunn wins North Island-Powell River riding |url=https://www.timescolonist.com/2025-canada-votes/conservative-ahead-of-ndp-in-tight-race-in-north-island-powell-river-10584813 |access-date=2025-05-02 |website=Times Colonist |language=en}} His win came amid a collapse in the NDP vote, and surge in the Liberal Party vote, potentially splitting the vote and contributing to his win.{{Cite web |last1=Baker |first1=Rochelle |last2=Gupta |first2=Sonal |date=2025-04-29 |title=Split vote lifted Gunn to victory despite controversy |url=https://www.nationalobserver.com/2025/04/30/news/aaron-gunn-north-island-powell-river-election |access-date=2025-05-02 |website=National Observer |language=en}}

Gunn describes himself as a "small-c" conservative.{{Cite web |last=Grochowski |first=Sarah |date=2021-10-22 |title=Aaron Gunn tossed from B.C. Liberal leadership race over 'diversity concerns' |url=https://www.timescolonist.com/bc-news/aaron-gunn-tossed-from-bc-liberal-leadership-race-over-diversity-concerns-4692945 |access-date=2025-05-02 |website=Times Colonist |language=en}}

Diversity practices in the military

Gunn opposes diversity hiring in the Canadian military, stating that it constitutes discrimination against white males. As of 2025, the Canadian military is 70% white and male.{{Cite web |last=Baker |first=Rochelle |date=2025-04-04 |title=Calls grow for Poilievre to pull Conservative candidate Gunn |url=https://www.nationalobserver.com/2025/04/04/news/north-island-first-nations-aaron-gunn |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250404225147/https://www.nationalobserver.com/2025/04/04/news/north-island-first-nations-aaron-gunn |archive-date=2025-04-04 |access-date=2025-05-02 |website=National Observer |language=en}}

Gender issues

Gunn believes that there are two genders.{{Cite web |last=Baker |first=Rochelle |date=2025-04-09 |title=BC Conservatives under fire for letter backing Aaron Gunn |url=https://www.pentictonherald.ca/spare_news/article_aaff0eaf-e7d8-5027-b1bb-44f97ec1be65.html |access-date=2025-05-02 |website=Penticton Herald |language=en}} His specific views on abortion are unclear, though the anti-abortion group Campaign Life Coalition rated him with an approving "green light".{{Cite web |last=Jure |first=Brendan |date=2025-04-03 |title=Pro-life coalition 'greenlights' two candidates in North Island - Powell River |url=https://www.comoxvalleyrecord.com/local-news/pro-life-coalition-greenlights-two-candidates-in-north-island-powell-river-7916575 |access-date=2025-05-02 |website=Comox Valley Record |language=en}}

Opioid crisis

Gunn opposes decriminalization and safe supply, stating that their implementation has been a "terrible disaster" in Canada. He says that treatment and recovery should be prioritized.{{Cite web |last=Galinski |first=Paul |date=2025-04-12 |title=North Island-Powell River candidate wants 'common-sense change' |url=https://www.prpeak.com/2025-canada-votes/north-island-powell-river-candidate-wants-common-sense-change-10514593 |access-date=2025-05-02 |website=The Peak |language=en}}

Russia

Gunn posted about Russian president Vladimir Putin approvingly on social media in 2014. He also suggested that Russia would have faced less international scrutiny for its anti-LGBT law if it had taken what he described as the "politically prudent" approach of broadly restricting free expression, as China had done during the 2008 Beijing Olympics. These comments resurfaced in 2025, when he was running for MP. He recanted his old statements, calling them "foolish".{{Cite web |last=Sidaway |first=Kori |date=2025-04-04 |title=Indigenous leaders call for North Island Conservative candidate's removal |url=https://cheknews.ca/indigenous-leaders-call-for-north-island-conservative-candidates-removal-1247617/ |access-date=2025-05-02 |website=CHEK |language=en-CA}}

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